Mangaluru, Oct 09, 2019: Dasara celebrations at Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatha Temple in city ended with the idol immersion ritual ‘Jalasthambhana’, at the temple pond in the early hours of today October 9, Wednesday.

‘Shobhayatre’ procession for idol immersion, which took off from the temple premises on October 8, Tuesday evening, passed through Lady Hill Circle Urwa, Lalbagh, Kodialbail, Hampankatta, Car Street and back to Kudroli Temple, followed by the immersion of idols.

The changes made in the order of the idols taken in procession by the temple committee this year, trucks carrying the idols of Ganesha, Adishakti, idols of Navadurga – the nine forms of Goddess Durga – and Goddess Sharada, led in the procession.

The tableaux followed the idols. During the previous years, the cultural procession was in the lead and many tableaux would join on the way, resulting in delay in the procession.

At least 75 tableaux, along with an estimated 100 types of ‘veshas’, ‘Kamsale’,‘Dollu Kunitha’, Singari Mela’ and ‘Huli Vesha’, were part of the cultural procession.

Traffic : The traffic movement from Mannagudda Gurji Circle to New Chitra Theatre was diverted to facilitate smooth movement of the procession. Also, the traffic movement on the main road was diverted as the procession progressed. This, however, resulted in inaccessibility to public transport on the main road, causing inconvenience.

The Mannagudda Road, leading to the temple from Lady Hill Circle, was jammed with people to witness the procession. While some people had occupied vantage points on the pavements and on buildings, on footpaths and on bus stops, some others preferred to be on move to get a closer view of the procession.

Hundreds of stalls, selling eatables, toys and fancy items, were put up by the vendors on roadsides.

The devotees made offerings and aarati when the tableaux carrying the idols made stops. Some also performed puja and received vermilion in return. Idol immersion was held in the early hours today October 9, at the temple pond of Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra.